Pubdate: Thu, 08 Feb 2007
Source: Washington Examiner (DC)
Copyright: 2007 Washington Examiner
Contact:  http://www.dcexaminer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3788
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n142/a02.html
Author: Robert Sharpe
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange)

FEDERAL BAN HAMPERS CITY'S ABILITY TO FIGHT HIV

Re: "District of Columbia tries to improve HIV/AIDS initiatives," Feb. 4

The District of Columbia's efforts to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS 
are hampered by the federal government's asinine needle exchange ban. 
Needle exchanges have been proven to reduce the spread of HIV without 
increasing drug use. They also serve as a bridge to drug treatment 
for an especially hard-to-reach population.

Drug users are not the only beneficiaries. U.S. Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention researchers estimate that 57 percent of AIDS 
cases among women, and 36 percent of overall AIDS cases in the U.S., 
are linked to injection drug use or sex with partners who inject 
drugs. This easily preventable public health crisis is a direct 
result of zero tolerance laws that restrict access to clean syringes.

Organizations that support syringe access include the American 
Medical Association, the American Public Health Association, the 
National Academy of Sciences, and the American Bar Association.

In the interest of containing the HIV epidemic, let's hope Congress 
acknowledges the drug war's tremendous collateral damage sooner 
rather than later.

Robert Sharpe

Policy analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman